Post-workout Korean BBQ in Cheongna: potato cheese pancake, Sammi-jip

Do you ever notice Wednesday is the day you crave the most delicious food? For me it's always Wednesday!!!!! This day too, after finishing my workout, I wanted to give myself a treat.... so I went and thoroughly enjoyed pork belly at Sammi-jip, a restaurant near Cheongna Lake Park.

There are no closed days. It opens early too, so it's also good for lunch.

Inside Sammi-jip in Cheongna: the room and what we ordered

The inside of Sammi-jip was clean and genuinely pretty. The tables were spacious and the chairs comfortable, so it would work well as a Cheongna dinner spot for a group gathering too. The interior is completely my style hahaha.

We ordered kimchi pork belly ₩17,000 x2, and potato cheese pancake ₩9,000.

What are the dongchimi (chilled radish water kimchi) and self-serve side dishes like at Sammi-jip?

The basic table setting at Sammi-jip has fresh lettuce wraps and dongchimi, and it's genuinely delicious... The dongchimi broth was so good I ended up stealing my boyfriend's portion too haha.

The minari (water celery), bean sprout salad, and green onion salad are meant to be grilled together with the meat!!!!!

You can help yourself to more side dishes if you run out! It's really nicely organized, which I liked. I'd say it might have the cleanest setup among the pork belly restaurants near Cheongna Lake Park.

A full spread ready for meat!!!! The tables are wide too so there's zero discomfort. No need to worry about where to put the side dishes haha.

Potato cheese pancake, 9,000 won: why you have to order it

Sammi-jip's potato cheese pancake (₩9,000) came out before the meat, and it's genuinely insane... shockingly delicious. This is truly a restaurant worth visiting near Cheongna Lake Park. Seriously everyone, you must order this!!!!! It's ridiculously addictive and so good.

Sammi-jip's kimchi thick-cut pork belly arrives already grilled

The meat at Sammi-jip comes out already grilled. It also arrives cut into bite-sized pieces, so all you have to do is eat it right away. Since it's grilled for you, this place would also be perfect for a Cheongna work dinner haha — no need to grill anything yourself.

They pile on kimchi, minari, bean sprouts, green onion, mushrooms, and onion, all together... Honestly, writing this post again makes me want to go destroy another plate (?).

The meat is packed with juices too. It's plump, and the moment you take a bite you just know — this is the pork belly restaurant near Cheongna Lake Park. And served in the pot, that vibe and flavor are just artistry. Seriously the best pairing with soju!!!!!

My boyfriend wrapped a lettuce wrap for me haha. A place where even love grows. Since the food is so good, we both just ended up happy.

The vegetables are fresh so they're great for wraps or just eating plain. There's also a dipping sauce that comes out, and it's subtly addictive — my hand kept reaching for it!!! With so many ways to eat it, the meat could probably go on forever.

You know how meat grilled by someone else always tastes better than meat you grill yourself. Since it's grilled with care at this restaurant near Cheongna Lake Park, the meat tastes even better... It seems to be grilled with far more attention than I could ever manage myself, so the juices stay locked in and it can't not be delicious. And the kimchi is genuinely delicious too. The combination of meat and kimchi is insane!!!!! Having several basic side dishes is such a plus. I think parents would especially love it, so I'd recommend it for a family dinner out too haha.

Heart-shaped fried rice to finish, and why no second stop was needed

And Koreans are truly a fried-rice nation, can't skip that!!! Sammi-jip's fried rice also came out well-fried, so once again all I had to do was eat comfortably... A restaurant in Cheongna 4-danji where everything is effortless to enjoy.

Honestly, at most pork belly restaurants you're busy grilling and it gets hectic, making you want to eat quickly and leave — but here it's so relaxed, and since there's potato cheese pancake, you don't even need to go anywhere else for round two lol lol. You can just have round two here too haha.

They even made the fried rice into a heart shape haha. The staff are all kind, and being able to eat comfortably is the best part. Definitely come here for a work dinner. Even the youngest employees can eat comfortably without having to grill anything~~

Parking at Sammi-jip in Cheongna and the final verdict

Sammi-jip also has parking available right in front!!! The restaurant itself is clean, you can really feel the attention to hygiene, the food is delicious, and the interior is pretty — there was truly no downside.

So we cleaned our plates completely... If you're looking for a good restaurant in Cheongna 4-danji, come here haha. Don't overthink where to go in Cheongna, definitely give this place a try haha. You might just become a regular after one visit~~~